White people are a little uncertain
of how to regard the American Indian. Ever since "The
Noble Red Man" (1870), Mark Twain`s caustic
deconstruction of James Fenimore Cooper`s
romanticized image of the American Indian, white
people have vacillated between
Indian images: Twain`s disgusting pauper on the
fringe of civilization and Cooper`s sublime prince of
nature.

American policy has evolved out of
both these images, for better or for worse, for both
the white man and the Indian.

From the
Indian point of view, it requires great moral
strength, and in that sense, implies the Cooper image.
Certainly, strength is the desired state, in any moment
of history, and the idea of strength should never be
obfuscated or crippled by any past reference to
error or tragedy in its wake. If strength today
makes the Indian appear like a "noble savage"
again, then so be it.

I propose that Indians forego the
chronic disposition of
us vs. them in regard to relations between the
Indian and the white man. This is an illusory
strength, and actually creates weakness. Indians
comprise one percent of the American population, and it
is not feasible that we can survive any serious
political conflict.

I propose that Indians take an
attitude of ownership and pride toward America. America
developed as the result of our charity and spiritual
auspices. Yes, the young,
exiled child of Europe soon
outgrew our tutelage, but, he can never outgrow the
historical truth that we nurtured him, and to us he owes
his backbone.

Thousands of years ago, another
tribesman once encountered a great monarch of earth.
Jacob, an old, wandering shepherd clansman, once came
before the Pharaoh of Egypt.

"And
Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before
Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh."
Genesis 47:7.

Jacob was a homeless, migrating
herdsman, but he knew what he was as a human
being; he knew where he was as a man; and he knew
what to do, as a very aged, but wholly
self-possessed person. He blessed Pharaoh. The old
peasant blessed the king.

This is strength. This is dignity.
And this is what Indians should do. We should bless
America, our mighty son. He is somewhat wayward, and
certainly troubled in his might, but, he clearly wants
and needs our acceptance.

After all, we are his adoptive
father. No one else in the world is. He has grown
greater than us, but nothing will change the original
relationship. We are the father, he is the son.

As a strong, self-possessed,
independent father, we should of course be honored by
our adopted children. We should allow white people to
luxuriate in what they are and what they have
accomplished. We should graciously receive their
laudation for this wonderful land of ours, which we
helped make their home.

Among the most soul-stirring words
ever written about America were those inspired in the
heart of
Katherine Lee Bates, in 1898, after viewing the
sheer beauty and grandeur of the American physique. From
Pike`s Peak, she was overwhelmed by the staggering,
stunning, soul-converting beauty of our
Mother Earth. This earth. This American earth.

A wondrous prayer, a triumphant
vision for all—including the Indian? But the
Indian was trampled under foot. How then shall this
historical tragedy be healed?

Only Indians can heal the breach.
That is the first thing Indians must understand.
Secondly, strength demands we heal it. Fatherhood
demands we bless our son, who comes to us for
acceptance—even forgiveness.

He just got too big, that`s all.
This stray child was the
seed of giants. We didn`t know. He didn`t know how
to tell us, either. He was just a kid, remember?

We can choose to disown him, but is
that truly noble and brave? We don`t have to be like
him, but we can still bless him. He feels terrible about
what happened. Let`s not make it impossible for him to
repent.

"When he was yet a great way
off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and…blessed
him."
Luke 15:20.

And why is it hard for the white
man to relate to the Indian?

White people are used to being
idolized. The fabulous accomplishments of America
mesmerize the world. Every race seems ambitious to
imitate the cultural ethos of America.

Yet the Indian desires to remain
separate in the very midst of the nation.

I believe this troubles the white
man deeply. When Indians remain aloof, the white man
feels it because the Indian in his heart still condemns
the white man. This is unbearably painful.

But the white man need not feel
this. He simply needs to understand that the Indian is
content with being Indian. The Indian
loves being Indian. The white man must simply allow
the Indian this freedom.

It is not met as an insult. This is
a man to man thing. Let
whites be white and Indians be Indian.